Colossians 3:9–14

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

Here there is no Gentile or Jew . . . slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Colossians 3:11

The longest reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom followed another monarch, seeking to follow Jesus daily: “The teachings of Christ . . . provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.” Consequently, Queen Elizabeth II called her subjects to live in harmony and not show favouritism. In her opinion, Christ amazed His world “by making it clear that the unfortunate and the underprivileged had an equal place in the Kingdom of Heaven with the rich and powerful.”

The late Queen’s call to love and serve others echoed that of the apostle Paul, who’d written an impassioned letter to the church at Colossae. False teachers were leading people astray, but Paul yearned that they would return to the wisdom of Christ. Believers were to “put on the new self,” through the power of the Holy Spirit (COLOSSIANS 3:10). Thus, because “Christ is all, and is in all,” divisions cease: “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free” (V. 11).

When we ground our beliefs in Christ, we find Him making us more like Himself. Perhaps we value our place in society less than before, or maybe we become passionate about helping those in need. As we serve the greatest King, we rejoice at how we are “God’s chosen people,” whom He clothes not in royal garb, but with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (V. 12).

How does serving the greatest King of all affect the way you view power and wealth? How could you work to dissolve any divisions you notice around you?

King of kings, You are mighty and powerful, and yet You sent Your Son to die for me. Help me to love and serve You and others.